School seat and desk



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

.h J. DUNCAN.

SOHOOL SEAT AND DESK. No. 432,662. Patented July 22, 1890.

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iw vtmaooao dww 1 (No Model.) 3 She ets-Sheet 2. J. DUNCAN.

SCHOOL SEAT AND DESK.

No. 432,662. Patented July 22, 1890.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. DUNCAN. SCHOOL SEAT AND DESK. No. 432,662. Patented July 22', 189 0.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES DUNCAN, OF OOSHOOTON, OHIO.

SCHOOL SEAT AND DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432.662, dated July 22, 1890. v I Application filed May 18, 1888. Serial No. 274,291. (No model.)

To all whom it 71mg concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES DUNCAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ooshocton, in the county of Ooshocton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined School Seat and Desk, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the ac oompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to school seats and desks; and it consists in certain peculiarities in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

One object of my invention is to construct a school desk and seat which can be adjusted to suit occupants of different sizes.

Another object of my invention is to construct a school-desk which can be adjusted vertically to such an extent as will permit its being used by a person standing, and one in which the angle of inclination may be changed to suit the user.

The objects generally of my invention are to provide a school desk and seat which, by reason of its simplicity of construction, the cheapness with which it can be manufactured, and the many advantages which it possesses, will readily recommend itself to those persons familiar with this class of invention.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, and on which the same letters of reference designate the same or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved school desk and seat, showing the same adjusted to their uppermost and lowermost positions in full and broken lines, respectively. Fig. 2 is a side view of a portion of the same, looking at the inside, and shows the means for holding the desk at any desired height. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the manner of engagement of the adjustable desk and seat-back. Fig. 4: is a rear side view of my improved school desk and seat. Fig. 5 is a detail view of means for connecting the seat and desk-support together. Fig. 6 is a detail view of that portion of said desksupport which includes the field of adjustment of the seat. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a bolt having a peculiarly-shaped head and serving to connect the seat and support together. Fig. 8 is a View of the .desk proper, showing means for securing the arms J thereto. Fig. 9 is a crosssection view of the same. Fig. 10 is a detail view showing a pinion having a toothed collar, forming a part of the means used in the vertical adjustment of the desk proper.

A designates the standards of my improved school desk and seat, of which standards there are obviously two, located one at either side of the same. Secured to each of these standards A and extending across the space between the same is the portion B, which. forms the back for the seat and the front for the desk. This portion B may be constructed of a series of slats I), having dovetailed connection, or it may be constructed in any other suitable manner without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Each of the standards A is formed or provided with a projection C, the inner surface of each of which is formed with a dovetailed recess 0, (shown best in Fig. 3,) which is engaged. by a similarly-shaped projection D, secured to the under side of the desk proper E. This deskE is also provided with depending rack-bars F, the teeth of' which engage a toothed collar G,projecting from and preferably fornied integral with a pinion G, which is mounted upon a horizontal shaft H, extending from one of the standards A to the other. On reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that these rack-bars F are of comparatively great length, so that a considerable range of adjustment of the desk E is permitted, whereby the height of said desk can be fixed to suit the requirements of the user. This desk E consists of the parts 6 and f, the latter of which parts is hinged to the part 6, so that its angle of inclination can be changed. To permit, this adjustment of the part fthe casting D, which is secured to the under side of the portion 6 of the desk, is formed with a depending portion d, having a lateral perforation, through which passes'a thumb-screw or other suitable securing means D, and confined between the head of this thumb-screw D and the outer surface of the depending portion (Z of the casting D is the casting Z, which is in shape an arc of a circle. This casting is formed with an elongated slot 9, and is secured at one of its ends to the under side of the portion f of the desk E, and its ICO inner surface is formed with teeth g, of which any desired number may be employed. These teeth g are adapted to be engaged by the end of a pawl g which is pivoted to the depending portion dof the casting D, whereby the hinge portionf of the desk E will be rigidly held in any desired position by the engagement of said teeth and pawl.

The desk E is raised and lowered by means of a hand-wheel L, mounted on the shaft H,

and it is held in its adjusted position by means of pawls M engaging the pinion G, said pawls being pivoted to the inner side of the standards A, all of which is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The outer surfaces of the rack-bars Fare formed with recesses F, which receive projections F extending from the inner sides of the standards A, by which means said rackbars are guided and prevented from wabblin g in the adjustment of the desk E, and the recesses c in each of the projections from the standards A and the projections (Z from the casting D perform the same purpose for the desk E, forming double parallel guides for the desk E, all of which will be clearly understood.

Secured to the inner side of the portion B of the desk is the receptacle N for the books, slates, and other property of the scholar. In order to gain access to the interior of this receptacle N, said receptacle is provided with a hinged portion N at its top, and the shaft II, hereinabove referred to, is preferablylocated immediately above said receptacle N, although it is obvious that in such location I do not limit myself. Each of the standards A is provided near its lower end with a vertical elongated slot 0 and with notches 0, opening into said slot 0 and located on opposite sides thereof in alignment with each other.

The notches 0 0 are arranged like a series of steps, having a substantially horizontal bearing 0' each side of the slot and an inclined face o 0 extending down and toward the center of the slot, and also extending obliquely away from the center of the slot in such a manner as to receive and accommodate the bolt-head P, which is made substantially in the shape of a truncated cone and constructed with a horizontal straight fiat surface P on the top and two surfaces beveled in two directions, both inwardly and toward the center and down, and is designated by the reference-letter P From the peculiar construction of this bolt-head and the notches it will be observed that the lower beveled sides I P have a long solid bearing on the beveled edges 0 O of the notches, as shown clearly in Figs. 6 and 7, taken together. The bolt P is provided with a nut Q on its inner end, which, when unscrewed, permits of the out ward movements of the bolt-head and facilitates the vertical adjustment of the seat R. Secured to the under side of this seat, at opposite sides thereof, is a bracket S, tapered in outline and strongest at the pivotal point of support '1. At this point the seat is provided with a circular bearing which fits with a correspondingl'y-curved b acket-support 20. In front of the pivotal support T is a projecting stop r, which serves to limit the downward movement of the seat and stop it in a substantially horizontal position. 'The curved arms 10 are secured in position by the bolts P and are secured against dropping forward and letting the seat down by oppositely-projecting lips or flanges v and c It is obvious from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the illustrations, that the seat may be adjusted to any desired elevation and securely held in position to accommodate children of different sizes and ages. Near the front edge of the stationary shelf 6 is a vertically-projecting strip 6', and in front of this strip 6 is a receptacle f to receive and accommodatepens,pencils, eraser, rubbers, &c., and at the rear free edge of the tilting portion f is a second rib f which extends only part way across the tilting shelf, leaving a clear uninterrupted space for the free and comfortable play of the forearm of the student, said rib serving to retain books, papers, the, on the desk. Its right-hand end, being smoothly beveled, thus secures the greatest comfort and least obstruction to the movement of the arms of the student in writing.

Having described the objects, uses, and advantages of my device, and having set forth in detail the construction of a desk embodying my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent, and what I therefore claim, 1s

1. In a school-desk, the supporting-standards having projections provided with recesses on theirinner surfaces, in combination with the desk proper, rack-bars, and projections secured to said desk, forming a double guide, a horizontal shaft having its bearings in said standards, a pinion mounted thereon and having a collar formed with teeth en gaging with the teeth of said rack-bars, and a pawl locking the desk in an elevated position, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a school-desk, the supporting-standards having projections provided with recesses on their inner surfaces, in combination with the desk proper, rack-bars, and projections secured to said desk, forming a double guide, a horizontal shaft having its hearings in said standards, a pinion mounted thereon and having a collar formed with teeth engaging with the teeth of said rack-bars, a pawl locking the desk in an elevated position, and a hand-wheel also mounted on said shaft and operating the same to raise and lower said desk, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a school-desk, the supporting-stand ards having projections provided with recesses on their inner surfaces, in combination with the desk proper, rack-bars, and projections secured to said desk, forming a double and having a collar formed with teeth engaging with the teeth of said rack-bars, and a pawl engaging the pinion and serving to lock the desk in its elevated position.

4. In a school-desk, the combination, with a vertical adjustable desk proper, consisting of a stationary shelf 6 and a hinged shelf f, of means for adjusting said desk, castings rigidly secured to said hinged portion f and provided with teeth on the top of said castings, and an arc-shaped slot extending along and through said castings, with set-screws for adjusting the hinged portion f to any desired angle, and pawls engaging the teeth of said castings, and arms (Z, which support the pawls, as set forth.

5. In a school seat and desk, the combination, with the standards formed with vertical slots and inelin ed notches, of the seat-support formed with oppositely-projecting flanges t" ando engaging said standards, and provided with a bolt having a polygonal head fitting said notches, and the nut on said bolt.

6. The combination, with the standards formed with horizontal rests, of the desk-supporting frame formed with downwardly-projecting rack-barspassed through said rests, whereby said rests form guides for said rackbars and stops for the downward movement of the frame, the projections d (P, forming a double guide, and the pinions beneath said rests and formed with horizontal toothed collars and pawls, all substantially as shown, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 9th day of April, 1888.

JAMES DUNCAN.

\Vitnesses:

SAML. M. Moonn, A. J. HILL. 

